Efface \Ef*face"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Effaced; p. pr. & vb. n. Effacing.]

[F. effacer; pref. es- (L. ex) + face face; prop., to destroy the face or form. See Face, and cf. Deface.]

1. To cause to disappear (as anything impresses or inscribed upon a surface) by rubbing out, striking out, etc.; to erase; to render illegible or indiscernible; as, to efface the letters on a monument, or the inscription on a coin. [1913 Webster]

2. To destroy, as a mental impression; to wear away. [1913 Webster]

Efface from his mind the theories and notions vulgarly received. --Bacon.

Syn: To blot out; expunge; erase; obliterate; cancel; destroy. -- Efface, Deface. To deface is to injure or impair a figure; to efface is to rub out or destroy, so as to render invisible. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

24 Moby Thesaurus words for "efface": annul, black out, blot, blot out, cancel, cross out, dele, delete, eliminate, eradicate, erase, exclude, expunge, extirpate, obliterate, raze, rub out, rule out, scratch, scratch out, sponge, sponge out, strike out, wipe out

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

efface

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Efface \Ef*face"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Effaced; p. pr. & vb. n. Effacing.]

[F. effacer; pref. es- (L. ex) + face face; prop., to destroy the face or form. See Face, and cf. Deface.]

1. To cause to disappear (as anything impresses or inscribed upon a surface) by rubbing out, striking out, etc.; to erase; to render illegible or indiscernible; as, to efface the letters on a monument, or the inscription on a coin.

2. To destroy, as a mental impression; to wear away.

Efface from his mind the theories and notions vulgarly received. --Bacon.

Syn: To blot out; expunge; erase; obliterate; cancel; destroy. -- Efface, Deface. To deface is to injure or impair a figure; to efface is to rub out or destroy, so as to render invisible.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)